A stunning end to a controversial day at the seaside

Ramsgate 2-3 Mead

An amazing finale on the Kent coast summed up a bizarre afternoon as the Mead secured their first away win of 2018 in a game that literally had just about everything…

Well everything except one very important aspect – a come from behind win, five goals, countless chances played on an ever-increasing sticky pitch in ever worsening conditions with almost the dream finish when the ten men come from behind in stoppage time to claim the points…

It truly was a remarkable afternoon at Southwood as the Mead literally grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat and left Thanet with all three points when the Mead faithful would have been more than happy with a point when the home side controversially took the lead ten minutes from time.

The first half was a truly enjoyable contest for the 176 who braved the conditions as chances were created at both ends without being taken. Paul Vines thought he’d netted his 18th goal of the season as he raced onto Tom O’Connor’s through ball only to roll his shot wide of the left post before at the other end Paxman hit a drive that thundered against the bar, before Lewis Carey beat out Chapman’s shot.

The Mead took the lead just before the half way stage of the half as Tom and Bode Anidugbe combined to get the ball into the home box and as a home defender handled, the referee pointed to the spot and Vinesy duly converted for his 18th goal of the season.

Before half time Paxman had hit the woodwork for a second time stretching for a Chapman centre before the assistant’s flag denied Vinesy another race away – it was a shame as Tom was the player offside as the Mead’s top scorer looked set to race away.

The home side were gifted a way back into the game just four minutes after the break when Smith was too much time and space in the visitors box when a corner wasn't cleared to level the scores as defenders slipped in an ever increasing battle to keep their feet in the increasingly wet conditions.

Scott Kinch should really have put the visitors back in front as he got on the end of Vinesy’ knock down from Tom’s free kick, but Kinchy just wasn’t able to get enough of a touch on the ball and Dickens was about to hack the ball away. In their next attack, Bode drove just too high before the game seemingly turned the home sides way decisively when Kinchy was shown a straight red card after an altercation with Millbank which left to a coming together of many players – including home keeper Jordan Carey who ran 65 yards to get involved – ten yards inside the Mead half.

With the visitors on the back foot, the home side poured forward looking for the winner and on 81 minutes they thought they’d found it – even if the Mead players and managers alike were far from impressed with the decision! A corner was drilled into the box and Lewis was clearly impeded by one or possibly two red shirts as Gray arrived late to head home. It was doubly tough for the Mead to take, as Gray had received the “final warning lecture” from the match official at least three times after being cautioned.

Smith and Paxman will both be wondering how they didn’t seal the points as Smith took advantage of another defensive slip only to be brilliantly denied by Lewis and as the ball rebounded to the luckless Paxman, Lewis stuck out a right boot to keep the visitors in the game.
Not that many in the ground could have foretold how this incredibly topsy-turvy game was going to finish as the Mead contrived a brilliantly worked equaliser in the 91st minute. A cross into the box was nodded down by Vinesy for sub Danny Parish who was brilliantly denied by the keeper. But Danny was fastest to react as the ball span loose and smashed it into the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season.

So, the Mead had a point, but incredibly it was to become three. Tom was left in a heap for the umpteenth time by Gray and as his team-mates demanded the referee do something, before the official had time to think, another sub Harvey Brand was sprinting into the Ramsgate box to drill home the most unlikely winner of the season which prompted wild scenes of celebrations on the pitch and with the travelling supporters…

An incredible game in very trying conditions and three points to take back up the Thanet Way – all that was missing was…